The son of a London cloth-worker, Inigo Jones studied
painting and architecture in Italy through the generosity of
his patron, the Earl of Pembroke. He returned to London in
1605 as Queen Anne's architect*.

Jones' most famous architectural designs include the
Banqueting House in Whitehall Palace, the piazza of Covent
Garden, and Queen Anne's
house, Greenwich.

Jones was also in charge of the production of court masques,
creating innovative stage and costume designs*. He
collaborated frequently with Ben Jonson until their
argument in 1631, after which Jonson was
dismissed* from his post. Jones'
connections at court proved unfortunate, however; as a
royalist, he was persecuted after the civil war and died in
poverty.

Jones' stage designs for court masques drew on Italian style
and technique; he introduced for the first time in England
the "picture-stage," framed by a proscenium arch and
concealed by a curtain. He also developed a system of
changing scenes with movable flats and shutters. By 1630-40
both innovations were being used in private theatres.

Ben Jonson satirized Jones in A Tale of a Tub
(1633)--but so great was Jones's influence at Court that the
Office of the
Revels censored the offending character,
one Vitruvius Hoop, "exceptions being taken against it by
Inigo Jones, Surveyor of the King's works." Nonetheless,
Jonson managed to write in another character (In-and-In
Medley) who represented Jones as a bumbling carpenter.
(Vitruvius was a Roman writer on architecture and stage
machinery.)

Footnotes

A Renaissance architect

Jones' most famous architectural designs include the
Banqueting House in Whitehall Palace, the piazza of Covent
Garden, and Queen Anne's
house, Greenwich.

Continental influence

Jones' stage designs for court masques drew on Italian style
and technique; he introduced for the first time in England
the "picture-stage," framed by a proscenium arch and
concealed by a curtain. He also developed a system of
changing scenes with movable flats and shutters. By 1630-40
both innovations were being used in private theatres.

Jones satirized

Ben Jonson satirized Jones in A Tale of a Tub
(1633)--but so great was Jones's influence at Court that the
Office of the
Revels censored the offending character,
one Vitruvius Hoop, "exceptions being taken against it by
Inigo Jones, Surveyor of the King's works." Nonetheless,
Jonson managed to write in another character (In-and-In
Medley) who represented Jones as a bumbling carpenter.
(Vitruvius was a Roman writer on architecture and stage
machinery.)